What to do

[Gizmo]

Yesterday afternoon I discovered one of my hens dead in the coop. No signs of violence and I did not think she was sick. This is my first adult chicken to die. The only other thing I can think of is it tried to fly up to high windows to roost and got hurt? There is only one chicken that flies up there the one that died was a buff orp and really shouldn't try flying that high. My question is if it was health related what should I look for in the rest of flock. I see them first thing in am and then at night when they are roosting for night. Also what do people do with the carcass/body?

[Brian]

Some times Chickens die. I would not panic.

To check for illness I look for one of 4 symptoms:

- Sitting listless and rumpled on the perch. Sign that something not right. could be anything viral, cold worms, etc...
- Dirty vent feathers - Gastrol Intestiunal Issue. - Worms, Coccidiosis, etc..
- Discharge around the nose and eyes - Respiratory infection viral
- Laboured Breathing - Upper respiratory

If none of the rest of your flock is showing any symptoms, and no one else dies, I would just chock it up to sometimes they just die.
It is the hard part of having animals that you love.

[PAJenn]

Also what do people do with the carcass/body?

We have a chicken grave yard (no markers mind you). If the ground is frozen, they go in a tightly sealed bag, and into a separate section in the deep-freeze until Spring thaw.

If you plan to bury them, take care to locate your final resting place(s) away from any source of high surface water (Spring flooding), or ground water (well).

The old-school farmers in my area claim the bottom of the manure pile (if you have one) is the best place to bury small animals. Apparently, the carcass will decompose in a few months. Fairly sure this method is no longer in any Best Management Practices booklet?

If I recall, from our last Environmental Farm Plan workshops, that bagging and sending the carcass to landfill is acceptable. I'd have to look that up though. So don't quote me on that. Come to think of it, bagging for landfill may have referred to disposal of rodents.

[ross]

In the ground good fertilizer .

[Gizmo]

Thanks everyone. I just had a good look at the girls 2 have no feathers by their vent and one is a bit dirty but rest look fine. Do they pull out feathers for certain reasons? Some looked like they had lots of new downy feathers. My chickens are buff orp, EE, welsummer and one black sexlink what are your thoughts?

[Brian]

Orpington and Welsummer have lots of down. Sexlink and EE usually do not. Sometimes they or other hens, roosters pluck feathers from butt areas.

I would just keep an eye on them and see. Most likely they are fine.